Toronto cops seize $6.5M in bogus goods

21 people are facing charges, after a massive counterfeit investigation across Canada and the U.S. Toronto Police announced the results of the probe this morning.

Investigators seized more than $6.5 million in counterfeit goods, including clothes, makeup, electronics, prescriptions drugs and TTC tokens. 13 locations in Southern Ontario were raided.

Project PACE — which stands for Partners Against Counterfeiting Everywhere — targeted businesses in Toronto, Peel, York and Durham regions. Police from those regions were involved in the probe, alongside officers from the RCMP, Canada Border Services Agency, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Toronto detective Derek Wilson says it’s all about protecting the consumer.

“Through joint operations like Project PACE, Toronto Police and partnering police agencies and private-sector stakeholders will continue to work together and try to prosecute those persons responsible for the sale and manufacture of counterfeit goods.”

Police are warning consumers to avoid buying anything they suspect to be counterfeit –not only because of associated health and safety risks–but also because the items often fund international organized crime and terrorist groups.

Charges include fraud, possession for the purpose of trafficking in stolen goods, and possession of property obtained by crime.